Bengaluru: on Monday, at 11.44 am,  Shivakumara Swami, head of Siddaganga Mutt in Karnataka's Tumkuru, died after a prolonged illness. He was 111 aged. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy informed that the cremation will be done on January 22, at 4.30 pm.

The main pontiff of Sree Siddaganga Mutt, Shivakumara Swami, was considered to be one of the most respected religious and social practitioners of the Lingayat-Veerashaiva faith of Lingayatism.

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The 111-year-old Lingayat was being suffering for a lung infection which he developed after an operation on December 8, which was carried out to treat his liver and bile duct infection.

Shivakumara Swami was born on 1 April 1907 in Veerapura near Magadi Taluk, Ramanagara District, was an Indian spiritual leader, humanitarian and educationist. He was a Hindu religious figure of the Lingayatism sect and head of the Siddaganga Matha in Karnataka. He also founded the Sri Siddaganga Education Society.He was described as the most esteemed adherent of Lingayatism. He was affectionately referred to as Nadedaduva Devaru (Walking God) in the State.

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